Should you lease, rent or buy cleaning equipment?

FORT WORTH, TX — An April 2011 online survey asked building service contractors (BSCs) if they have ever considered renting or leasing janitorial equipment such as carpet extractors and floor machines, according to a press release.

The survey, which was sponsored by Powr-Flite, was the result of interviews with two BSCs in Northern California who said they had never rented or leased cleaning equipment nor had they ever considered it, the release stated.

According to the release, the survey indicated these two BSCs were not in the majority.

Of the 63 contractors that started and/or completed the survey, 62.6 percent indicated they had considered renting floor machines and carpet extractors; slightly more than 56 percent said the same about leasing these tools, the release noted.

"Leasing can be cost effective because very often the contractor can purchase the equipment at the end of the lease at a significantly reduced price," said Gary Pelphrey, marketing director for Powr-Flite.

"Because more distributors and rental houses rent/lease professional cleaning equipment, at least this is an option available to BSCs when needed," Pelphrey added.